Two firefighters have been killed and another two injured after a burning apartment building collapsed in Kansas City last night.
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The fallen firefighters have been identified as 17-year veteran Larry Leggio of Truck 2 and 13-year veteran John Mesh of Pumper 10. He leaves a wife and four daughters.
Crews were still at the scene of the fire early Tuesday.
Berardi broke the news about Mesh and Leggio in tears.
“They did not die in vain”, KCTV reported him as saying.
With fires and firefighter deaths decreasing in Kansas City and nationwide in recent years, it becomes easier to overlook the dangers that come with the job day in and day out.
Kansas City Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Grote said the department appreciated the support from the Royals and the wider community. Just minutes earlier, all firefighters had evacuated the weakened structure, home to businesses and apartments, as a safety precaution. Crews were clearing an area where a roof had started to cave in about 7:30 p.m. Monday when the building collapsed.
“Every fire we go to, whether it’s a house fire or commercial building or apartment building, we have safety measures in place and training is the first key to preventing those kinds of things”, Cpt.
Flames could be seen peeking from the rubble hours after the men were injured.
One resident said he woke up and heard someone yelling for everyone to get out. Neighbors said he took great pride and care of the Northeast.
“That was the career I was going to pursue”, Hosmer said. Paramedics, nurses, and doctors had tried to save the pair, who had just saved civilians’ lives. I’m thankful they’re here. The condition of the two injured firefighters was not clear early Tuesday.
Hall said a Springfield firefighter has not been killed in the line of duty since the 1940s, and that is fortunate considering the size of the department.
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On Wednesday ATF investigators will begin digging through the huge pile of brick and wood, looking for the cause of the deadly fire.
